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Potentially lost a new client from being TOO honest - File this under "Lessons Learned"

by Seantrepreneur
38 replies
I thought some of you might be interested in hearing what NOT to do. It was a stupid mistake on my part. What did I do you say?

I told the potential customer that it's hard to make guarantees when it comes to SEO.

I said this because she already has a website with very little content and I wouldn't have that much room to make changes or add much if any content. So it would be 95% off page optimization. So of course one of the next things out of her mouth was that she needs a guarantee before she signs anything. She is getting proposals from two other companies and said that both of them guaranteed her results.

Obviously, I should have worded things differently. I could have guaranteed that she would have seen an improvement from where her site currently is in the rankings, but I consider results 1st page ranking. Also, I could have easily just said "Ya sure, I guarantee great results" and took her money without caring. However, being a small business owner myself I would not do that to someone else.

Another thing to keep in mind is that I've spent well over 3 hours with her on the phone already explaining everything over and over. Some of which was her trying to negotiate down our proposed rate. If she does end up using us I could see having to hold her hand through the whole process and countless emails and phone calls. Which I don't mind because I want her to be as happy as possible and refer all of her friends to us.

Anyways, I wanted to share this with newbies so they don't make the same mistake I did. Let's hope she can look past that miss step and sign the contract. I'll keep you guys updated.

Sean
#client #file #honest #lessons learned #lost #potentially
  • Profile picture of the author RRG
    Originally Posted by Seantrepreneur View Post

    I thought some of you might be interested in hearing what NOT to do. It was a stupid mistake on my part. What did I do you say?

    I told the potential customer that it's hard to make guarantees when it comes to SEO.

    I said this because she already has a website with very little content and I wouldn't have that much room to make changes or add much if any content. So it would be 95% off page optimization. So of course one of the next things out of her mouth was that she needs a guarantee before she signs anything. She is getting proposals from two other companies and said that both of them guaranteed her results.

    Obviously, I should have worded things differently. I could have guaranteed that she would have seen an improvement from where her site currently is in the rankings, but I consider results 1st page ranking. Also, I could have easily just said "Ya sure, I guarantee great results" and took her money without caring. However, being a small business owner myself I would not do that to someone else.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that I've spent well over 3 hours with her on the phone already explaining everything over and over. Some of which was her trying to negotiate down our proposed rate. If she does end up using us I could see having to hold her hand through the whole process and countless emails and phone calls. Which I don't mind because I want her to be as happy as possible and refer all of her friends to us.

    Anyways, I wanted to share this with newbies so they don't make the same mistake I did. Let's hope she can look past that miss step and sign the contract. I'll keep you guys updated.

    Sean
    Sounds to me like a client you wouldn't want anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author PPC-Coach
    Agreed, with clients like that who are already annoying and already trying to get guarantees and a lower, dump them first.

    Call her back and say that you're sorry but you won't be able to work with her. Then don't say a word. Wait for her to speak. It could be 5 minutes of silence but first one to speak loses.

    She will either say "fine".

    OR

    She'll try to find out why and try to start selling herself to you as a client.

    If she takes the second route, be honest with her and say that you will increase her rankings and you do guarantee you will put everything you've got into her site's ranking well, but you do not guarantee a spot on a page because that's something out of your control. You can only guarantee things you control and any other company promising a spot is not being completely honest with her.

    On pricing, find out what she's into. If it's cars it's easy. "I'm an Aston Martin DB9, you're asking for prices for a Chevy Cavalier". (Hopefully that's not her car...LOL). But you get the jist.
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    • Profile picture of the author TyBrown
      I don't think you worded things wrong with how you presented the fact that you don't offer a guarantee.

      In sales there is a term called a 'damaging admission'. When you promise the moon with no visible down-side it can be very off putting to prospects. People know that nothing is perfect so they are always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

      By admitting what isn't perfect about your product/service you can often gain more trust.

      So, like I say, I don't think you did anything wrong with presenting your end. What it sounds like you did wrong is how you presented your offer compared to the other guys. She is obviously looking at your service as a commodity. Anytime someone is doing that you've got to take a step back and realize you didn't do your job during the educational process. If she thinks that you guys all do the same thing but they offer a guarantee then what DIDN'T you tell her during your fact finding?

      She needs to know WHY you aren't offering a guarantee and why you are still the better choice.

      Now, if you aren't the better choice...if they really can offer a real guarantee...if they've got a better service for a similar or lesser price...then you need to change your offerings or consider if you're in the right business.

      But if you are going to get her better results, put more money in her pocket, and the only thing standing in between you getting the job is a guarantee, then you need to educate her on why their guarantee is BS, why you are going to charge her more and she'll end up thanking you for it, and why her business will get that much better because of what you are amazing at doing.
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    • Profile picture of the author QuickSurf
      Originally Posted by PPC-Coach View Post


      On pricing, find out what she's into. If it's cars it's easy. "I'm an Aston Martin DB9, you're asking for prices for a Chevy Cavalier". (Hopefully that's not her car...LOL). But you get the jist.
      Funny thing is thats an excellent response/come back, I've said similar stuff before as well. It will usually catch them off guard and give themselves a chuckle, and smile and say k... let's do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author DrPaul
    Originally Posted by Seantrepreneur View Post

    I thought some of you might be interested in hearing what NOT to do. It was a stupid mistake on my part. What did I do you say?

    I told the potential customer that it's hard to make guarantees when it comes to SEO.

    I said this because she already has a website with very little content and I wouldn't have that much room to make changes or add much if any content. So it would be 95% off page optimization. So of course one of the next things out of her mouth was that she needs a guarantee before she signs anything. She is getting proposals from two other companies and said that both of them guaranteed her results.

    Obviously, I should have worded things differently. I could have guaranteed that she would have seen an improvement from where her site currently is in the rankings, but I consider results 1st page ranking. Also, I could have easily just said "Ya sure, I guarantee great results" and took her money without caring. However, being a small business owner myself I would not do that to someone else.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that I've spent well over 3 hours with her on the phone already explaining everything over and over. Some of which was her trying to negotiate down our proposed rate. If she does end up using us I could see having to hold her hand through the whole process and countless emails and phone calls. Which I don't mind because I want her to be as happy as possible and refer all of her friends to us.

    Anyways, I wanted to share this with newbies so they don't make the same mistake I did. Let's hope she can look past that miss step and sign the contract. I'll keep you guys updated.

    Sean
    It sounds like, the lesson you should have learned, was to take charge of the meeting (phone call).

    My suggestion in this case may not suit you, simply because of my Business model, however on the second round robin of questions, I would have simply stated that my service includes, one day a month SEO educational class for all of my clients, and one day a month for one-on-one coaching.

    When a client signs up for my service, she gets all of my services, whether she chooses to use them or not, no up-selling. If she likes what she learns in my classes or coaching sessions, all she has to do is ask me to implement that strategy for her.

    I also engage my clients directly in their own promotions, I do not do all of the work for them, I am sure to get each of them involved in perfecting their own on and off page SEO.

    I show them how to create and upload videos that promote their business.

    I show them how to write and distribute effective sales copy and emails, and distribute them to their lists.

    I am constantly on the lookout for new Ideas here, and those ideas that I believe work, I teach in the next month's sessions.

    I also Host and Maintain WordPress sites for their web, mobile, and Facebook pages.

    Yes, they could do this themselves and cut me out of the picture, but then my hosting goes away, and with it, all of the tools (most of them private lable) specifically designed to help them do these things.

    I have not yet had any customer drop their $1460 /mo PayPal recurring subscription to my services.
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    • Profile picture of the author TyBrown
      Originally Posted by DrPaul View Post

      It sounds like, the lesson you should have learned, was to take charge of the meeting (phone call).

      My suggestion in this case may not suit you, simply because of my Business model, however on the second round robin of questions, I would have simply stated that my service includes, one day a month SEO educational class for all of my clients, and one day a month for one-on-one coaching.

      When a client signs up for my service, she gets all of my services, whether she chooses to use them or not, no up-selling. If she likes what she learns in my classes or coaching sessions, all she has to do is ask me to implement that strategy for her.

      I also engage my clients directly in their own promotions, I do not do all of the work for them, I am sure to get each of them involved in perfecting their own on and off page SEO.

      I show them how to create and upload videos that promote their business.

      I show them how to write and distribute effective sales copy and emails, and distribute them to their lists.

      I am constantly on the lookout for new Ideas here, and those ideas that I believe work, I teach in the next month's sessions.

      I also Host and Maintain WordPress sites for their web, mobile, and Facebook pages.

      Yes, they could do this themselves and cut me out of the picture, but then my hosting goes away, and with it, all of the tools (most of them private lable) specifically designed to help them do these things.

      I have not yet had any customer drop their $1460 /mo PayPal recurring subscription to my services.

      I appreciate this post. I don't sell SEO but in reading your business model I was intrigued and curious if I could apply it to my business.

      Help me understand, you're basically offering consulting and education, correct? If I understand, you aren't doing any of the implementation?

      If I am right, can you talk a bit about positioning? Your clients are probably getting pitched by other SEO specialists and they are likely getting pitched programs that are $200-$1000 a month that include certain implementation (probably link building, article writing, video submissions, etc.) What do you do for positioning that adds enough value to these companies that they see the benefit in paying you more without implementation.

      I'm interested because you've obviously figured out a great way to position yourself and I'm wondering if I can model your system or a part of it.

      Thanks.
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      • Profile picture of the author DrPaul
        Originally Posted by TyBrown View Post

        I appreciate this post. I don't sell SEO but in reading your business model I was intrigued and curious if I could apply it to my business.

        Help me understand, you're basically offering consulting and education, correct? If I understand, you aren't doing any of the implementation?

        If I am right, can you talk a bit about positioning? Your clients are probably getting pitched by other SEO specialists and they are likely getting pitched programs that are $200-$1000 a month that include certain implementation (probably link building, article writing, video submissions, etc.) What do you do for positioning that adds enough value to these companies that they see the benefit in paying you more without implementation.

        I'm interested because you've obviously figured out a great way to position yourself and I'm wondering if I can model your system or a part of it.

        Thanks.
        I do perform some tasks such as back links. I show the client exactly what I do, and the tools I use to do it. I have invested in unlimited and/or developer licences for all of the products i use, and show the client where they can purchase the same tools.

        I have figured that with ALL of the tools, themes, plugins, hosting, video, equipment rentals, Production studios, etc which I have available to my clients, my services are available to them, elsewhere, at about $5000 a month, give or take.

        As I've said in other threads, I'm retired and my girlfriends call this my "Hobby".

        I charge precisely $1460 per month because my former medical disability check was $730/mo, but the rules of disability were, if I made more than $600 a month through any other source, the check would be halted.

        So charging the first customer anything less than $730, meant I was loosing money, or at best, working for free. Have you ever tried dating multiple women? Try seeing how far $730 a month will get ya.

        I simply doubled that figure and made that my price, no up-sell, no discounts, the whole enchilada.

        I meet with every client at least twice a month, and I check their progress with them.

        If anyone asks me a question, I'm as direct and honest as I can be. Getting caught in a lie will only damage your reputation, your business, or your relationship. This way, I'm rarely ever surprised by anything down the road.

        Here's two sayings that I try to keep in mind, daily, and they seem fitting for this forum.

        • "There is life, and there is death. Each must be purchased by the other, and the Warrior is the merchant in this market. The Warrior, without honor, has nothing to trade." Japanese proverb

        • "The man who is surprised by anything in life, is either a fool, or a madman." John Norman - The Books of Gor
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua Morris
    I always tell my clients..... that anyone who guarantees you rankings is either google, or lying!
    Then i go on to say, I provide the only thing that can improve SEO, and that is on page optimization, and backlinks.
    Any other SEO company will do the exact same thing, but with me I will be holding your hand as i do it, making sure every step of the way things are perfect.

    etc etc etc...
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    • Profile picture of the author Deidra Renee
      Originally Posted by drummer05 View Post

      I always tell my clients..... that anyone who guarantees you rankings is either google, or lying!
      Then i go on to say, I provide the only thing that can improve SEO, and that is on page optimization, and backlinks.
      Any other SEO company will do the exact same thing, but with me I will be holding your hand as i do it, making sure every step of the way things are perfect.

      etc etc etc...
      I like that..I may steal it lol j/k
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      • Profile picture of the author Joshua Morris
        Originally Posted by Deidra Renee View Post

        I like that..I may steal it lol j/k

        go for it
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        • Profile picture of the author sanjaypande
          It depends on how you position yourself. You appear to be someone who is ethical and transparent.

          I wouldn't even worry about this prospect. It all happens for the good. Blowing this deal could be the best thing that happened to you - you may not have to deal with someone who will be a pain to work for.

          By the way, if they throw the guarantee card at you, you can always say that Google themselves warn you against SEO companies offering guarantees in their webmaster guidelines.

          Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - Webmaster Tools Help

          Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings

          You can use that next time and keep your integrity. Your clients already like you for it.
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          • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
            Great point! Even Google says don't trust SEO firms that make guarantees about ranking.

            My own method gets all my clients top rankings but that has never ever changed my rule to not guarantee a 1st page ranking or even the top rankings.


            Originally Posted by sanjaypande View Post

            It depends on how you position yourself. You appear to be someone who is ethical and transparent.

            I wouldn't even worry about this prospect. It all happens for the good. Blowing this deal could be the best thing that happened to you - you may not have to deal with someone who will be a pain to work for.

            By the way, if they throw the guarantee card at you, you can always say that Google themselves warn you against SEO companies offering guarantees in their webmaster guidelines.

            Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - Webmaster Tools Help

            Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings

            You can use that next time and keep your integrity. Your clients already like you for it.
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    • Profile picture of the author BKH
      Originally Posted by drummer05 View Post

      I always tell my clients..... that anyone who guarantees you rankings is either google, or lying!
      Then i go on to say, I provide the only thing that can improve SEO, and that is on page optimization, and backlinks.
      Any other SEO company will do the exact same thing, but with me I will be holding your hand as i do it, making sure every step of the way things are perfect.

      etc etc etc...
      I always say "If someones giving you a guarantee, their either lying or not telling the truth". But I always like to get my customers to laugh as much as I can in a meeting to help with their comfort level.
      b
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  • Profile picture of the author Qamar
    Tell her that you can guarantee first page top position for her company but for keywords that no one is searching for! Tell her maybe that's what the other companies tried to sell her.

    Explain briefly that ranking top in first page Google doesn't mean anything if the keywords are not profitable but if she insist on that then just give it to her.......


    Qamar
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    • Profile picture of the author Suze Thomas
      Originally Posted by Qamar View Post

      Tell her that you can guarantee first page top position for her company but for keywords that no one is searching for! Tell her maybe that's what the other companies tried to sell her.

      Explain briefly that ranking top in first page Google doesn't mean anything if the keywords are not profitable but if she insist on that then just give it to her.......Qamar
      Qamar's right, thats the game some of these SEO Companies like to play. They will offer to get naive owners ranked for 'junk' keywords that no one ever searches for. But they're words that sound like people would search for them. And by the time the business owner figures it out, their money is gone.
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  • Profile picture of the author dancorkill
    Yeah just turn it around. I just explain truthfully a guarantee is just a sales tool to make you buy. I don't use this kind of manipulation because I don't believe it is ethical to guarantee something which is out of my control (google rankings). What I can guarantee is I will treat your website as if it was my own etc etc. Turn it around to whatever industry she is in, e.g. if a chiropractor can you guarantee I will never have any back problems ever again (even if I get hit by a car)?

    Give references, that she is flaking after this much time talking just means not enough trust built or she just likes to talk a lot about business but never do any (which it sounds like, in which case don't take her as a client).

    Next time you get in contact, one question, are you in or are you out?

    People who need guarantees on marketing are not good clients. Marketing is an investment, not a sure thing. Typically they don't have a growth mindset for their business, they are just trying to save money everywhere and never try or risk anything. If you succeed in growing their business they will think they did it all, if their business doesn't grow for whatever reason they will blame you.

    My number 1 mistake I made starting out was taking on clients like this.
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    • Profile picture of the author RRG
      Originally Posted by dancorkill View Post

      Yeah just turn it around. I just explain truthfully a guarantee is just a sales tool to make you buy. I don't use this kind of manipulation because I don't believe it is ethical to guarantee something which is out of my control (google rankings). What I can guarantee is I will treat your website as if it was my own etc etc. Turn it around to whatever industry she is in, e.g. if a chiropractor can you guarantee I will never have any back problems ever again (even if I get hit by a car)?

      Give references, that she is flaking after this much time talking just means not enough trust built or she just likes to talk a lot about business but never do any (which it sounds like, in which case don't take her as a client).

      Next time you get in contact, one question, are you in or are you out?

      People who need guarantees on marketing are not good clients. Marketing is an investment, not a sure thing. Typically they don't have a growth mindset for their business, they are just trying to save money everywhere and never try or risk anything. If you succeed in growing their business they will think they did it all, if their business doesn't grow for whatever reason they will blame you.

      My number 1 mistake I made starting out was taking on clients like this.
      Some good points there.

      I must, however, disagree with you about guarantees (in general, not in the case of guaranteeing a certain ranking position for SEO services).

      A guarantee might be a sales tool to help persuade people to buy (not "make" them buy) and it is NOT manipulation.

      A guarantee is a form of risk-reversal that can help persuade someone on the fence to take a chance to try you out.

      And there are always things you can guarantee other than particular outcomes:


      that you will spend x-number of hours per month on SEO activities or set-up x-number of backlinks per month or whatever

      that you will return phone calls within 4 business hours

      Or anything else that will help differentiate you from all the other SEO geeks out there (social media geeks, mobile geeks, QR geeks, whatever type of geek you are)


      Another good idea is to give your guarantee(s) creative, proprietary names.

      Guarantees are good. Use them.
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      • Profile picture of the author dancorkill
        Originally Posted by RRG View Post

        A guarantee might be a sales tool to help persuade people to buy (not "make" them buy) and it is NOT manipulation.
        Wouldn't worry about getting to technical over wording. The point is differentiate yourself by being the only person out there not offering a guarantee.

        Turn everything to your advantage. People say I'm too young, I say the other guys are too old, your to small, the other seo companies are too large, have to many overheads etc etc. Don't play into the business owners game of your service is a commodity that they can shop around.

        Side note on this thread, you can never be too honest but you do need to SELL people if you truly want to HELP people.
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    • Profile picture of the author PatriciaS
      Originally Posted by dancorkill View Post

      My number 1 mistake I made starting out was taking on clients like this.
      You've gotten lots of advice about what you did or didn't do to get the results you got. Real good info all, but I have a different view.

      I had my own small business working with other small businesses a lot of years ago and one MAJOR thing I learned is that there are some clients you DO NOT WANT. There are some clients who are more trouble than they're worth or could ever BE worth. Your first clue, IMO, was your 3 hours with this prospect.

      With this kind of prospect: Cut your losses and move on!!

      If this had happened to me, I'd see it very quickly for what I believe it is: the Universe's clear and unambiguous message to me that this is someone I DO NOT WANT (and frankly don't deserve) as a client.

      And I'd rejoice at learning it early.

      I'm sure there are warriors here who would think that they could "turn around" such a prospect, and maybe have had experience doing so. For me, that never, ever worked and I'll never attempt it again.

      I want clients who are the other half of a win/win equation, and quite willingly so from the get go.

      Good luck to you!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    Next time just you could just tell the prospect;

    The other firms are willing to make you a guarantee in order to get your money, I'm willing to tell you the truth because I don't need your business that badly.
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    • Profile picture of the author mattlaclear
      Originally Posted by Rus Sells View Post

      Next time just you could just tell the prospect;

      The other firms are willing to make you a guarantee in order to get your money, I'm willing to tell you the truth because I don't need your business that badly.
      I would counter saying any vendor who claimed not to be able to guarantee a page one ranking does so because they think it's actually true. Once a vendor does away with that false premise anything becomes possible.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        Originally Posted by mattlaclear View Post

        I would counter saying any vendor who claimed not to be able to guarantee a page one ranking does so because they think it's actually true. Once a vendor does away with that false premise anything becomes possible.
        Wow. Matt you are my new guru.
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  • Profile picture of the author TyErickson
    Or you could have told her...

    I could get a good luck at a T-Bone by sticking my head up a cows ass but I'd rather take the butchers word for it.

    Love that movie....
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  • Profile picture of the author keliix06
    Most of the people here don't seem to understand what a guarantee is.

    You can most definitely guarantee a first page (or even #1) ranking. But what does the client get if you don't reach the promise? The point of a guarantee is to say "If you don't get what I promise you get something back from the deal" not "You will 100% get exactly what I promise." Major difference between the two.

    Although I agree that she sounds like a major PITA. I would also never offer a guarantee on any SEO services.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jake03
    You told the truth. That's a +1 in my book.
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  • Profile picture of the author Seantrepreneur
    Wow so much good advice fellow warriors.

    To touch of a couple points. First, I agree and disagree with telling her the other companies are BS by offering a guarantee. I did say that she should be careful with someone giving her a guarantee in this business, but I didn't want to take smack about the other companies because I don't do business that way. Second, I think we have to keep in mind that customers don't have a clue about our industry so that don't understand how we couldn't guarantee a service that we offer. So there is A LOT of explaining that needs to go into it and even then it might not get through to them.

    Thanks for all the input!! As I said I'll keep you updated as soon as I hear something.

    Sean
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    Wouldn't worry about getting to technical over wording. The point is differentiate yourself by being the only person out there not offering a guarantee.
    Bingo!!!

    @Matt, I don't get your response, or you didn't get the point of my reply.
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  • Profile picture of the author digichik
    You didn't lose a client, you lost a major headache. Much of the advice given in previous posts in this thread are golden. I'm keeping them in a "Rebuttals File".
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  • Profile picture of the author ZachAnderson
    I always believe that you need to decide how you are going to go about doing business and hold to those core values. If the client doesn't fit into these values then it isn't a good fit and you are better off with out them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Seantrepreneur
    UPDATE: The client emailed me today and said that she would like to move forward with our services.

    I understand where a few of you were coming from by saying "drop her" or "we are better off without this one", but I take it as a way to prove that our company can handle all different types of clients! I'm excited for the challenge!

    Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

    Sean
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    • Profile picture of the author LozJames
      Hi There

      I've been in offline marketing for 11 years and in that time I've learned by experience that your success isn't determined by the amount of clients you get - but by the amount of 'good' clients you get :-)

      If your gut instinct tells you a client is going to be trouble, then it's not worth your billable time taking them on. However, if you think their upfront terms/expectation/attitude seem realistic - then go for it.

      If there's mutual respect and understanding from the start then everything usually pans out ok. I don't think you should worry about the semantics of any guarantee (or not).

      Just my 2 cents worth :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author kmids
    I would never take a client that doubts the value of my work. If you value your work at a certain price, dont take anyone who doesnt believe it's worth the same thing.
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    • Profile picture of the author KingOfContentMarketing
      Originally Posted by sanjaypande View Post

      I wouldn't even worry about this prospect. It all happens for the good. Blowing this deal could be the best thing that happened to you - you may not have to deal with someone who will be a pain to work for.
      Originally Posted by Seantrepreneur View Post

      UPDATE: The client emailed me today and said that she would like to move forward with our services.

      I understand where a few of you were coming from by saying "drop her" or "we are better off without this one", but I take it as a way to prove that our company can handle all different types of clients! I'm excited for the challenge!

      Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

      Sean
      Good job Sean!

      I still agree with Sanjay on this one but keep us updated on this client. It will be interesting to see how they are as a customer.
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      Marketing is not a battle of products. It is a battle of perceptions.
      - Jack Trout
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  • Profile picture of the author housewarrior
    Hello Seantrepreneur,

    I was actually doing some research for an arkle when I ran across this line of talk quite by accident. I hadn't planned on commenting...but this is too good.

    If you're seeing this...I'm curious... What was the outcome? Was it worth it? You and the client still pals? Still happy with your decision?

    Me personal? I got mad just reading this. I can deal with brain damage when I have to, but I would never knowingly ask for it. ( Yes, I have. More than once. Sigh. But I try hard to not to. Jeez.)

    From your description that lady was telling you to RUN. Run away very fast. Ah well. Just curious.
    Norm


    I thought some of you might be interested in hearing what NOT to do. It was a stupid mistake on my part. What did I do you say?

    I told the potential customer that it's hard to make guarantees when it comes to SEO.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that I've spent well over 3 hours with her on the phone already
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  • Profile picture of the author ACGroup1
    Hey Sean,

    Yo did right by her and more importantly by yourself. You can tell her you guarantee result and then stress yourself out hoping that she would. You were honest and ethical with the client and because of that, once the others fail (and they will) she will show back up on your doorstep with hat in hand. Even if that doesn't happen, others will appreciate your honesty and will pay for it. One more thing, having been on the the other side of things, promising a client the world and only delivering 3/4 of it didn't help me at all when the client charged back. A lot of time, work and money disappeared in a split second because of my arrogance. I wish I had done what you had.
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  • Profile picture of the author SuzyBlack
    So true - unfortunately honesty sometimes isn't the best policy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Seantrepreneur
    Hey Everyone,

    Well to give an update of the situation, she did end up going with us and she has been a little bit of a headache. Nothing we can't handle tho. She is a typical small business owner and wants to know where her money is going. By that I mean she wants to know what we are doing and how it's being done. It's fairly simple tho because we just give her updates of our progress and she loves it.

    I agree with what everyone is saying about honesty being the best policy. That how I will always run my business and if the potential client can't deal with that then it isn't worth doing business with them.

    Sean
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    -------->Started with $500 on Amazon and building it from there. Week #1 income report is live ($593.78 in revenue)<----------
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